THE moth species which ruined many a fine suit and overcoat is coming close to extinction in Wales because so many garments are now made of synthetic fibres.

Larvae of the common clothes moth used to find an ideal habitat in homes where clothes were shut away in dark wardrobes and floors were covered with woollen rugs or carpets. Mothballs of strong-smelling camphor were placed in wardrobes as a deterrent.

Moth expert Ron Elliott said, "The common clothes moth was once very numerous but now we've got a lot of synthetic stuff it is almost extinct. We get the odd one recorded, now and then."

He said there was now no reason for householders to fear the 2,500 species of moth in Britain, some of which were important plant pollinators.